Having a small voice in the industry sometimes means having to listen to allot of guff from would be Internet Kings. Frequently I receive emails from new companies (and agents) wanting to hawk there products. More often than not what they are offering does not suit the purpose of this site. Sometimes the products are great and sometimes they are just shelf fillers.
However today I received a forwarded email from Robert (thanks) and I just threw my eyes up….again
The biggest problem I see with many of the new smaller interests is they play against how bad realestate.com.au and domain.com.au are (in their eyes) and how you can save buckets of money with them. They forget to think that these portals actually have real visitors, making real enquiries and generating real results. The main marketing line is an absolute doozy, from a site that has just over 240 property listings!
Here is the email I was forwarded…………..
The Headline: Your Google of Real Estate Marketing! (Peter’s Comment – yeah sure, so many similarities! And the catchy name!)
The Body: Did you know that James Packer’s Publishing and Broadcasting (PBL) is taking realestate.com.au and domain.com.au head on?
That’s right PBL wants a slice of your money, the 80 million profits generated from online property advertising. Healthy competition they call it. Hopefully agents will benefit from lower subscription costs and initial free advertising deals. That would be the logical thing to assume with a major third player coming online.
Of course they want to make money, it is what they do! Of course, we have seen price wars before. They are the long awaited relief. The reality is, they are short lived. Remember Compass One & Two? They went broke in no time and airfares went back up to where they were. We are not suggesting PBL would go broke, but then you would have “the Big 3”, who like “The Big 4” (banks) never really put their prices down.
Yes true, however starting a bank or an airline does cost a little more than a website and ongoing costs can be quite high, so absolutely no relevance to this industry whatsoever!
We at itorip.com.au have our own agenda. We keep working hard developing the best facilities and services we can for you at no cost whatsoever.
Okay, have to stop you here, best facilities? Have you looked at the site? I am sorry this is just another boring template style site that would take a few weeks to get up and running! You can buy scripts for these sites for a couple of hundred dollars.
The itorip.com.au team is not chasing any of your $80 million.
The itorip.com.au team is striving to shrink your $80 million expenses
The itorip.com.au can successfully achieve this by your no strings-attached registration and postings of your listings.
If you haven’t registered yet, visit itorip.com.au now and support the site that supports you.
Place your ads today. Tell your friends about this exciting new site.
Regards the Itorip team
First things first, I assume that by ‘team’ they mean ‘me’ or ‘I’, because there is no way there is a team working on this. Only 200+ free listings are on the site and are they trying to tell us they are some sort of large organisation?
The Sign Off: This email was sent to you because we believe itorip.com.au has a lot to offer to you; without any obligation. However, should you wish to be removed from our mailing list please send us an email with the message “Opt Out”.
Opt Out? Why would they opt out of something they have never opted into? If agents get continuous emails then this company should be taken to court, as it is illegal to send bulk emails to people who have not subscribed to a service.
Finally
Here is a message to all would be Internet Real Estate millionaires. If you want to release something, better make it different, if you are to boast then you better back it up. I am all for the small guys but releasing junk like this is an insult to other companies that actually think about developing a great site.
These sites are just trash, made up by people that just think that by slamming the big guys agents will just line up, I am sure they mean well, but it is just complete and utter rubbish. I have telephone conversations with allot of people developing products and the one thing that stands out is the complete and utter rubbish that comes out of most (not all) of their mouths about costing and staff levels. A gentleman recently had a meeting with me to help his site and give my overall opinion. He told me that he had 10 full time staff, who had been working for 6 months. During our meeting I told him he should sack 8 of his staff, hire an interface designer and start over – and I was being nice…! He obviously did not listen to me and 6 months later he has hardly any listings, a site designed by his nephew (the genius of course) and a business going down the drain.
Now the facts are he probably had 2 full time staff and definitely a friend who designed the site – so why try to impress me? Who knows, that guff works for some people, but a truly great Internet development only needs a small dedicated team and allot of nous.
Developments like these are not rocket science. As an example, to redevelop the main part of realestate.com.au (minus advertising systems) might cost you around $1 million. You could do it for less, but there are a fair few smarts behind the system! So this is where I would start, not with the site, but with bthe systems!
I am sure I will check back in 6 months and it will either have disappeared or it will still have less than 500 listings.
No Really Finally
If any of these sites were to become popular I am sure they would sell out to anyone who would pay them enough money and agents would all be back where they started. The industry may well need a knight in shining armour, but it isn’t going to come from private enterprise, it has to be a committed partnership between all parties.
49 Comments
snoop
And what a name for a site?
ITorip or RIP?
I cant believe the naivete of the people building these sites thinking they will make a business,or even get traffic.
Real Estate is a very mature market in terms of Internet,pretty much at the start of things in the US and Aus.
This is unfortunately a game for the big boys in terms of Portals for Listings,as will the overall agency business.
I think we will see much more consolidation in the major franchises this year with the big getting bigger and the smaller getting smaller but more specialised.
Peter Ricci
Have to agree Snoop. However, as far as franchises go, I think the opposite. I think independents (good ones) probably have more going forward, faster moving, can adapt to changes in the market faster, lower overheads, unique positions etc.
Calvin
Hi Peter,
I would just like to remind everyone that http://www.homehound.com.au is an industry website that is free to all registered Real Estate Agents.
It
Peter
Hi Calvin and welcome on board.
Couple of things, Do the major franchises still own shares in this site, considering their involvement in myhome.com.au?
And by industry website does that mean it is owned by agents, institutes or by FPC Courier Group?
Again thanks for your comments!
Sam
Homehound has a Google PR of only 4.
I just searched a popular postcode and it had 9 listings whereas there are dozens on the market in that location REA has 80 Domain has 74
I doubt the site has many visitors despite the claimed stats. Who would bother ?
Craig
Hi Peter,
I actually disagree with your comments.
I own a small real estate office and have been a member of the largest RE portal for some time now. I have recently been alerted that they will be putting their prices up at quite a substancial rate. Ive had a rep from the 2nd largest site visit me and their prices are comparable.
As a small agency I am happy to see sites like the one above. The real estate advertising sector needs to have more competition, and if it means supporting sites like the one above, then so be it
Peter
Craig, thanks for your comments. I applaud your support of these sites. There are at last count about 30 of them around Australia just like this one, so it may be hard to take a pick!
Lewis Pirotta
Dear Peter,
Our attention was drawn to an article published on your website about an upcoming site, itorip.com.au. To be honest with you, we did not hear of your site till it was put to our attention. That does not matter, we love all creatures, big and small.
We (the itorip.com.au team, not me or I) read your letter with great care as we would like to keep an open mind and absorb all feedback. We believe you must have very valid reasons in your own mind to launch such an attack, if we may use the term, purely on the basis of an email forwarded to you. If we are doing something wrong we always appreciate when it
Peter
Lewis
Thank you for your email. I am not an ‘Agent’ Lewis, I am a software developer of solutions for real estate agents. I say this just in case you have not read about the site.
I do not however promote myself or my products on this site unless I also include my competitors.
Now, I am not directly having a go at your company but to all would be Internet Moguls who bring your types of website to market with claims that in my opinion are ridiculous.
Your ‘Google of Real Estate Listings’ is something you could say when you had maybe 1 million listings. Not around 240. This just makes you look silly!
If you are to have success then I will commend your marketing and tenacity, however there are just so many sites out there like your own and not one of you is doing or saying anything different.
Beating 500 listings is not going to be a victory for you, 10,000 + would be and I wish you well in your quest.
This is a reasonable target and would mean about 100 agents have joined. Including Craig’s real estate office above.
This would give you less than 1.5% of the market of agents.
Now as a final note – this site is also about being open and honest and I will note that Craig’s comment above came from exactly the same IP address as yours, maybe he is an agent that works from within your development office, maybe he isn’t? Perhaps you could clarify this irregularity!
So please keep the comments coming!
Sam
“about being open and honest and I will note that Craig
Lewis Pirotta
Hi Sam,
Good on you for picking up the subtlity. But remember Business2 is firmly committed to your privacy…………….
Cheers
Lewis Pirotta
Hi Peter,
Thanks for your comments. I do not understand the relevance of being and agent or a software developer. We are all entitled to be something and we are all entitled to have a got at anything we like as long as it is legal.
I did not promote and I am not aware of anyone from our company promoting itorip.com.au products on your site except for the
Peter
Sam
Every single email that is written to anyone has in the header the IP address of that person. All I did was note that they came from the same IP address.
Everyone of you has the same ability to do this, it is not sneaky and neither is it underhanded.
If people have something to hide, then maybe it is, but check the headers out of every email you receive and the data is there.
Regards Peter
Sam
To allow people to post here anonymously then try to identify them by their IP address and put those details in your blog for all to see is not ethical.
The fact that you can do this does not justify you doing it and publishing your thoughts for all to see.
You see….. people now know that you will try to identify them by this method so they cannot place anonymous comments here and be assured of privacy.
If you don’t want anonymous posts change your system so everybody is identified in advance, check supplied email addresses and get a valid response before allowing people to post.
Peter Ricci
Firstly Sam – People have the right to be upset for the above comments I made, I made a subtle enquiry and it has now been addressed. You make many comments on here Sam and if you know about IP addresses they can only be identified as a number.
This does not identify anything else about the person. If you feel so strongly about protecting your privacy, I will respect the fact that you might not like to comment further. This system and every other blogging platform does this by default and I will not change this. The majority of people on this site identify who they are and what company they work for by filling in the website link or by text or by supplying a correct email address.
So I can tell you when I saw the comment by Craig, my first thought that it was written by someone from the itorip company. Then when I received an email from Lewis, I checked out the IP address and yes there it was exactly the same. Every time you visit a web page, send an email, download an image, send messages online you are identified, noy by your name, address, telephone number, but your IP address, which for many is dynamic and changes all the time. I made a comment about this to Lewis and he has addressed it.
Now, your point that I can now identify people is ridiculous, yes I can identify people that write under different names for the same article by their IP address, so if you wrote one comment from ‘Maria’ and then another one from ‘Mark’ I could tell they were from the same computer or connection, but I cannot tell what computer or connection. So what can I do with this information?
Lewis
Thanks for sorting this out internally., I accept 100% your apology and for me this is the end of the matter. You have to understand that I write for all of the industry, there is nothing wrong with what you are doing, but in my opinion it is just like the rest. I have now written over 300 articles over 5 years on this site, so I have seen them all, from radio signs, to every single next big thing.
I have always said, that there can be great successes made locally, so maybe concentrate your efforts on being the best in say Melbourne’s Eastern Suburbs – or even just a few areas.
Do some deals with local newspapers (locally owned) and radio stations (locally owned) , get into partnerships that can get your site out there.
Get onto the front doors of agents.
To me being a small player means being smarter, just like any business, I think you should grow it locally, and then move city wide, then statewide then national.
Otherwise you will be relegated to another site sending bulk emails that agents could care less about.
Regards Peter
PS: I never, ever edit comments unless they are rude or offensive, I never block links, so it must have been the way it was posted.
Sam
“Now, your point that I can now identify people is ridiculous”
I never said that, I said you “try” to identify people which in itself goes against the spirit of posting anonymously.
I’ve no doubt many of the posts in here are from people who do not want be identified, either accept it or reject it but don’t try to get eound it by guessing from IP addresses then posting your thoughts here.
This isn’t the first time I’ve seen you do this, I thought it time to speak up when I saw the latest comments from you re IP addresses.
Great blog but I thought it best to point this flaw out.
Robert Simeon
Woo hoo !! Pandora’s box has been opened again with further revelations of individuals pretending to be someone or something that they are not.
I congratulate Peter on “outing” this practise as it serves no purpose and makes a mockery of healthy debate.
When someone offers and opinion it should exactly be that !! Not pretending to be someone who they obviously are not.
“Hi Peter,
I actually disagree with your comments.
I own a small real estate office and have been a member of the largest RE portal for some time now. I have recently been alerted that they will be putting their prices up at quite a substancial rate. Ive had a rep from the 2nd largest site visit me and their prices are comparable.”
So it looks like Craig does not own a real estate office ( I do), he is a member of either REA or Domain as he claims they visited him. And, they are increasing their subscriptions which we all know that they are not !!
Such irresponsible posts do in my opinion need to be brought to the attention of the readership.
Personally, I find the sudden interest in owning a property portal(s) to be nothing more than a joke. All these backyard start – ups do is crawl agent websites lifting properties and then believing that they have a business plan.
Take homehound.com.au, which Calvin states as being an industry website. I would argue that it is actually a FPC Courier Group website as it was actually set up by them not, the industry.
When News Limited complete their acquisition of FPC Courier Newspapers what will happen to it then ? Homehound upload all our properties free of charge yet nobody ever sends us an online enquiry. I once sent myself one to see if it actually worked and I think we may have received one last year. So it delivers one enquiry (in our instance) every couple of years.
We pay to be contracted to REA and Domain – because they deliver us results. Yes, I believe that their is much room for improvement. However, at this point in time they are the only property portals that are exactly that.
As for the new kids on the block – I suggest that you dare to be different as against the boring hype of same same – but different. Different because you are free and not by your choice.
Jack
Outing the practice ??? This site allows it in case you hadn’t noticed.
Peter
Hi Jack, can you explain what you mean? If I can help improve this site I will consider all requests.
Jack
I meant you allow anonymous posts by not checking identities, it’s obvious many are anonymous but Robert calls it a practise you have ‘outed”
This shows a lack of understanding of the posts or the site or both.
Why not just call all unidentified posts “anonymous” so Robert doesn’t get confused
The sites fine – would be good if contributors were notified by email when a new post was placed. Would also encourage people to identify themselves, well not really, anyone can get a hotmail account.
Perhaps new posts could be identified at the top of the page, at present all older subjects are down the page and any new posts are probably missed.
David Slattery
Well……it all kicks off again.
Sam – whomever you are – I am a fan.
So………..Peter……….where is your post challenging where My Home is???
Peter
Jack – Thanks for your posts and your suggestions. I am currently re developing this site for a cleaner interface and style and will take your suggestions on board.
Sam – Thanks again for comments. I am pretty lenient when I post or comment made is just that, but pretending top be something your not – well over time, this site shows that many are smart enough to work people out without me trying to ‘out’ anyone.
David – You are hasty. I believe others have quoted it was to launch in January (late that is) however I have heard nothing official from PBL. So no good me bagging them. It does pale into insignificance the launch of the National Just Listed Site which is more than 2 years late.
I will give my judgement on launch date!
Robert Simeon
Oh Jack,
“I meant you allow anonymous posts by not checking identities, it
Jack
“So Jack, we then have to read comments by idiots who pretend to be something that they are not ? ”
Oh dear Robert, you are confused.
I don’t see anywhere where an anonoymous post has been from someone pretending to be anything but anonymous.
As for anonymous posts being from idiots, if you don’t know who they are it makes it hard for you to make that call but that doesn’t stop you does it.
If you knew who they were perhaps you’d learn not to be so judgemental without reason.
Robert Simeon
Ho hum,
I guess a representation by someone (Jack likes anon) who states that they are an agent, even though they are employed by Itorip.com.au. Then claims to be an agent and business owner who then is “outed” by his boss that he has now been through ” remedial action”. Obviously to remedy his self belief that he is a real estate agent, business owner and subscriber to major property portals !!
Not withstanding his claim that representatives of the respective portals have visited his business to advise that rates were being increased.
Not sure what part of this you are missing Jack !! You may be nimble however you are not quick !!
Robert Simeon
Love this one from Jack, regarding anon posters.
” If you knew who they are perhaps you’d learn not to be so judgemental without reason.”
You are killing me with laughter – Jack why the need to hide ?
I rest my case as the idiots are trying to take over the assylum.
Jack
“Not sure what part of this you are missing Jack”
All of it I think.
I thought you were having a go at me.
and Robert a good reason for remaining anon is that when you make an ass of yourself you don’t drag your whole office down with you, I guess thats becoming all too clear to you about now.
Robert Simeon
Jack,
Yes, you are not the sharpest tool in the shed, so I understand why you decide to remain anon.
Your choice,
Cheers
Jack
“so I understand why you decide to remain anon”
and why you should have.
Peter
Okay guys, enough. Look some people prefer to remain anom, and that is fine be me and should be fine by anyone else. Jack and Sam and others who make many varied comments on a wide range of subjects are all fine. I don’t know of either of them trying to promote their products or services under false pretences so it is all fine and we should embrace this.
However this is not a forum for promoting ones company under false pretences. I will not stand for that otherwise this site will be full of people telling everyone how great this and that is – like so many other forums.
So if you are going to write something like ….”hey guys I came across this great product, it is best-of-breed and it will change the way you do business”…….then I will allow it maybe once and then just bounce it – I have done this many many times and most of the time they do not return.
This is a site for vigorous debate about technology for everyone, agents, vendors, software companies……
Robert & Jack, you bring so much to this forum, stand up for what you believe in, but take a few seconds to think about what you write as it does get a little personal at times. I am sure you both enjoy it and it is light in nature, but I want debate.
I get around 30 comments a day on this site. I do not throw ads everywhere, I write about things I think will interest the community and I make no $$$ from this.
If someone wants to have a go at me, I never stop them from doing it so keep up the vigour but keep the respect to at least “A Current Affair” standard.
Play hard but with a smile!
Robert Simeon
Jack,
The difference is that I have nothing to hide !!
If I did I would post anon – but there again that would construe that I have something to say – however, I prefer to hide. I have not a single problem by identifying myself because what you read is what you get.
The simple fact is that I post as a person as against someone who decides to impersonate a thought process.
Jack, you hide bacause you have to – I don’t because I have absolutely nothing to fear.
I much prefer who I am not, what I want other to believe.
Sam
“The simple fact is that I post as a person as against someone who decides to impersonate a thought process”
ROFL – What the ??? That’s what cheap cask wine does yo you.
“what you read is what you get”
Yes it would seem so.
I’m anonymous as are others, I don’t promote any service or product and I don’t get personal, I only attack when attacked.
Don’t try to put people down because they post anonymously, their ideas are what you should be looking at , not who they are.
Now think about that before you respond with that rapier wit of yours.
Robert Simeon
Grange Hermitage actually Sam !!
Peter Ricci
Is this a competition to see who can rile each other the most?
Come on guys enough is enough!
Sam
All in good fun but I agree this is getting way off topic and quite a waste of time. Grange ? you charge too much Robert.
Tom S
Hey Pete, another topical post I see.
Don’t think that you defend this site regarding anonymity. This suits some bloggers and other not. The choice is there. I think that it’s terrific that you put some of these (over) self promoters and fraudulent contributors in their place. To me it demonstrates a a sign of desperation on their part – I think that it is laughable that some of these people describe themselves as “Business Managers” and refer to business plans. They lack a basic sense of commercial reality. Their inspiration must have been when Google overtook the Yahoos and Alta Vistas of this world. But we are dealing with mature online media markets now. Nobody ever remembers all of the hundreds of “Google wannabes” that have fallen by the wayside.
I would be interested to read a response from Calvin (HomePound) based on your questions. At least this is coming from an outfit that has some reasonable support out in the market place.
Keep your posts coming Pete and don’t even both responding to the ragbags that peddle their deceit.
Peter Ricci
Thanks Tom. I still do respect everyone’s opinion and as you can see I don’t just let people who say nice things about me through. Everyone has a voice and can hide their identity if they wish.
But I suppose I have made it clear now, that poor and deceitful behaviour just will not be tolerated and yes I will out them!
But if someone wishes to remain anomonous (and lets face it in most cases I only get their IP address) then so be it.
There are two reponses I am waiting for.
1. from Dave from Realestate.com.au on the issue of blocking Spyk’s spiders
2. From Calvin (Homehound) RE future potential purchase from News Ltd and its consequences.
Robert Simeon
Peter,
I would be surprised if you hear anything from homehound, or dogpound as the industry calls it. As they will shortly be 100 % in the hands of News, once the FPC newspaper acquisition by News happens. Yes, as Calvin calls it an industry property portal where they upload all properties then host free of charge.
The very one and pretty only thing that News don’t own is a property portal in Australia. Whilst they are majority shareholders of REA – they are not in total control. Unlike Fairfax who own 100 % of Domain.com.au.
News through their newspaper group Cumberland
(if the sale proceeds) will also acquire the highly successful Wentworth Courier. It would be reasonable to assume that they will dump the failed Northside Courier (FPC) as The Mosman Daily and North Shore Times smash them in terms advertising dollar revenue.
FPC have all the agents in the Eastern Suburbs signed to advertising contracts whereby I understand that 75 % of an agency spend must be directed to FPC. Cumberland who are nice people to deal with are not into restrictive contracts.
Interesting times indeed, however what News do will be even more interesting.
Do they stay with REA or challenge the inherited and failed (in our experience) homehound ?
Peter Ricci
I doubt very much whether News would go it alone with Homehound. However doing the maths, what would News get if it sold down its stake in REA? The shareprice would plummet if it did, but there would be many other eager buyers of those shares and News is very good at protecting its turf.
REA has done wonderfully well promoting its site across Australia in News Ltd papers.
With so many solid partnerships across the globe, I doubt we will see them abandon REA.
But you can bet Homehound will just be a rebranded website concentrating on Sydney metro with its listings coming from REA….
Your thoughts?
Tom S
News Corp walking away from a majority controlled $400 stake in the industry leader to develop their own Australian Real Estate property portal!?! With an organization that they have partnered (with a substantial investment) in the UK and Italian markets?!?!? To develop Homehound!?! The likelihood is zero.
REA have just announced a 60% growth in hits for all of their sites combined (70% in the UK). Wait till they announce their prelim results this month. News Corp will be rubbing their hands over their original $10 mill investment, and drawing up a plan of how to get another 32% so that they can go into compulsory acquisition.
The race is over for this market.
I did read this week that the REIV had bought realestateview.com.au. 5 years too late. Everybody needs to move on and start developing partnerships with the industry leader/s in order to get some reasonable return on investment.
Peter Ricci
Hi Tom
I agree with everything you have said -except last line. THe Internet is still very very very young. Leaders such as REA have to now show that they care about agents by continuing to value add for the very people that make them a success – agents, not simply value add for their shareholders.
I think there can be a balance, but as I have said, when heavyweights such as Google get involved in real estate (which they will) you can be sure that the current leaders in this space will go through a major shake-up.
Google will do it for FREE for agents and if they do it, Yahoo, and Microsoft will soon follow.
This will mean leaders such as REA and Domain will have no choice but to lift their value to agents and drop prices significantly.
Google, Yahoo and Microsoft are the first point of call for just about everyone, from turning on their PC’s top Searching for just about anything.
Robert Simeon
Interesting times ahead indeed. So much rhetoric abounding the property portals with impending new online releases.
Even more interesting from my perspective is that the two (and only) dominant portals have the spinal support of newspapers, that being REA and Domain. Whilst there is persausive opinion that this will change over time ( I don’t agree) none of the free portals have dollars to promote themselves.
This mentality over time will change, however it is very clear that unless you run a successful newspaper associated relationship with online ie Sydney Morning Herald (Fairfax) and Cumberland (News). The rest will achieve little to no online traffic.
I agree that Google, Yahoo and Microsoft will re-define property portals in Australia. However, that does not stop Fairfax from packaging their print/online relationships as they are the only business that has 100 per cent ownership of both businesses.
News have tried miserably for years to crack the Sydney property market with print, and failed with the Telegraph on a Saturday to combat Saturday Domain.
Community newspapers (News) are a totally different story.
My point is that they are (despite being a 7.5 % shareholder) of Fairfax in total competition with them.
Fairfax, have total ownership of their print and online businesses. News don’t !!
Real estate is a lucrative business – it just depends on how much of these “rivers of gold” a big business wants to share !!
Need I say more ?
Robert Simeon
Tom S,
Given you acute knowledge of REA, please advise that you are a devoted employee or, a self confessed tragic of their overseas acquisitions ??
Tom S >>
“REA have just announced a 60% growth in hits for all of their sites combined (70% in the UK). Wait till they announce their prelim results this month. News Corp will be rubbing their hands over their original $10 mill investment, and drawing up a plan of how to get another 32% so that they can go into compulsory acquisition. ”
So Tommy, just where is your obvious founded knowledge of REA based ??
Elizabeth
Good evening gentlemen,
My word Peter this post has it all.
Scandalous entries asserting points and power over one another, yet few constructed arguments. However thank goodness for Robert and yourself.
I did giggle upon reading Jacks comments. Raised an eyebrow when Calvin entered the frame. However Lewis and Craig from ITORIP really take the cake.
Lewis, quite simply, the game is over. You have had your shot at publicity, and you were not up for the challenge. Aiming to be able to manage 500 listings is woeful. I myself had 280 sales listings on my books just two years ago.
Robert I suggest that you employ some kind of Net Nanny system to block out the children. Sam, for some reason or another, and despite stating that he only attacks when attacked, is making far too many preemptive strikes.
I think that everyone contributing to this forum needs to remember the wonderful thing which Peter is affording us. Have your opinions about the industry, but never attack your host.
Sam, Lewis and all of the staff at ITORIP, remember your manners. Always remember to put your best foot forward, as people make business decisions on how we appear.
Now Robert, I am counting on you to rise above the ‘one up man ship’. I was just a little disappointed to see your retort to Jack (however justified).
My thoughts on the ‘thread’ (another term my nephew introduced to me)… Peter you have it totally spot on.
I want results not false promises. I am not an early adopter, I am a cautious follower who makes sure my marketing is spot on.
I control where my listings appear, and at this stage in life I have heard the phrase “Support the Site Supports You” far too many times.
(A bit disjointed tonight – either too much brandy or not enough)
E
Peter Ricci
Elizabeth
Thank you for your kind words. However, attacking me is no problem, I encourage constructive debate about what I write and never stop people from criticising , myself or other bloggers. (yes whilst we are at it, we are all now bloggers)
🙂 Peter
PS: Brandy?
Tom S
Hi Bob,
I’ve already answered this question (http://www.business2.com.au/2006/12/04/can-packer-owned-myhome-take-a-bite/) Don’t you remember………..?
Robert Simeon
Thanks Tom, and yes I do remember.
My intrigue is based on my curiousity that you have so much knowledge on what is happening at REA, yet very little knowledge on what is happening at Domain. As you constantly state REA results !! For the record the more successful that REA become – the better it serves our real estate business. And or justifies the monies we pay them each month.
Possibly, I am reading between the lines – just that you appear to be a REA encylopaedia on their results.
And I also remember that you did have their website entered on your earlier posts ?
Tom S
Hi Robert,
My interest REA is based on this organisation that started out of a garage in Doncaster East from virtually nothing, was floated by Maquarie, almost went under (no thanks to Andrew Barnes, an executive director at Maquarie and Chairman of REA), had various predators circling and has since restructured it self to go on and become the dominant online real estate media company in Australia and is looking to repeat this performance in overseas markets, which I have no doubt that they will. All in the space of 10 years and with a market cap of $700 mill. Showing little or no arrogance along the way. This is a good story, so let’s give credit where credit is due.
As far as my knowledge of Domain, there is a lot less publicly available information, due to the fact that it is diluted within the Fairfax F2 business model and accounts. One thing that I do know about Fairfax is that they must be kicking themselves for not buying REA back in 2000.
Fin Review, 26 Sept 2000,
Article Headline – “Way clear for Fairfax on real-estate site”.
….The rejection (by PropertyPage, aka HomeHound) comes as a major blow………However, the Melbourne based company (REA) is back on the campaign trail and is rumored to be in negotiations with Fairfax……If the deal does eventuate with Fairfax, it would extend the reach of the media giant’s internet property offering……
The information regarding REA hit rates has posted on the REA blog over the weekend http://blogs.realestate.com.au/ceocorner/2007/02/68_million_ubs_to_the_rea_grou.html. It is available to everyone. The publicly listed company excels at keeping the market (and it
Robert Simeon
Thanks Tom, for your articulate identification on your positioning.
What does differentiate our positionings is that we actually pay both portals, being REA and Domain to subscribe to their online businesses.
I monitor each and every enquiry for both rentals and sales, that either portal delievers on a daily basis to our business.
This allows me to make an educated decision based on the sole results that the portals that we pay for deliver.
No need for the polygraph as my inbox delivers the knowledge that I pay for and require.
Cheers